Winter school holidays

Highlights

If you have a family to entertain over the winter holidays there are endless opportunities to create moments of fun to remember. From expos and films, to fun fairs and animal encounters, there’s plenty to enjoy these school holidays.

Must Do

Winter holidays

In 2015, schools in New South Wales break up for two weeks from the end of June (27 June to 12 July). If you're looking for ways to entertain your family over the winter holidays there are plenty of options in Sydney.

Take a ferry from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo where you can get up close with animals from around the world. For a special treat, book in for their Roar and Snore program to spend the night camping at the zoo. Wake up on Sydney Harbour to the roar of a lion or an elephant trumpeting and experience behind the scenes animal encounters before the crowds.

In the east, Bondi is home to the annual Winter Magic Festival. Here you'll be able to play on funfair rides, enjoy street food and take to the ice skating rink. To the north of the city is Luna Park, a permanent and long-standing mecca of kids entertainment and rides.

Over the weekend of 5 and 6 July take your family to Sydney Olympic Park to enjoy the Toy and Game Expo. Families can try out the latest toys, get their hands squishy with Play-Doh, build lego machines, and play classic games such as Monopoly.

The Puppeteria Theatre in Randwick features revolving storylines in its shows each week. Over the school holidays there are two shows daily at 10.30am and 1.30pm aimed at two-to-five-year-olds and four-to-nine-year-olds, respectively. The theatre is operated by Jeral Puppets, one of Australia's oldest established puppet companies.

Sydney Tower Eye

Take the 260-metre lift to the Observation Deck of Sydney Tower Eye and give the kids a real thrill. They'll be able to use high-powered binoculars and touch screens to find out about Sydney's famous landmarks. Your ticket includes a 4D cinema experience with special effects including wind, bubbles and fire!

Australian National Maritime Museum

The Australian National Maritime Museum is known for its lightshow, Mini Mariners program each Tuesday and changing exhibitions especially during the school holidays. You can crawl through a submarine, explore the last of the big gun destroyers and marvel at HMB Endeavour, Captain Cook's vessel of discovery.